Jean Kleeberger van Loben Sels -- doyenne of wine industry in Napa

Published 4:00 am, Wednesday, June 18, 2003

Jean Allen Kleeberger van Loben Sels, a doyenne of the Napa Valley wine industry who had the nose of an oenophile and the effortless charm of a seasoned hostess, died Sunday at her home in Bakersfield. She was 85 and suffered from kidney failure, her family said.

Mrs. van Loben Sels and her husband, W.E. "Bud" van Loben Sels, founded the boutique winery Oakville Vineyards in 1968 and helped start the Oakville Grocery, which became one of the nation's first gourmet grocery stores.

Shortly after purchasing Oakville Vineyards, the van Loben Selses bought the Neibaum winery and estate in Rutherford, where they lived. They sold the estate to film director Francis Ford Coppola in 1978.

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As Oakville Vineyards became known for its Cabernets and Sauvignon Blanc, Mrs. van Loben Sels -- in charge of the winery's events and marketing -- developed a reputation for putting together large-scale parties and wine tastings, held at the Neibaum estate.

"She was a lot of fun, a great cook, a great conversationalist, and just wonderful at putting people together and helping them to enjoy themselves," said her son, W. Page van Loben Sels.

He added, "She was very happy to see so many wineries succeed and become so well known."

Mrs. van Loben Sels was born in Berkeley in 1917. Her father, Frank Louis Kleeberger, was a professor at UC Berkeley and chair of the school's physical education department. Her mother, Helen Jane Aldrich Kleeberger, held a Ph.D. in romance languages. Following in the family tradition, young Jean Allen attended UC Berkeley, where she met her future husband.

The two celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary in 1999.

Before moving to the Napa Valley, Mr. van Loben Sels worked in the trucking industry in Carmel. Mrs. van Loben Sels served on many charities and was a board member of the Monterey Peninsula Hospital Auxiliary. She was auxiliary president during the hospital's transition to a new site.

"She did a tremendous amount of fund raising that made the new hospital building possible," her son said. "She was a persistent and persuasive lady."

A year after selling the Neibaum estate to Coppola, Mr. and Mrs. van Loben Sels closed Oakville Vineyards and moved to Bakersfield.

Mr. Van Loben Sels died in May 2001 at the age of 85.

Mrs. van Loben Sels is survived by her three children: Judith Mirrer of Middlebury, Conn.; Elizabeth Millett of New Lebanon, N.Y.; and W. Page van Loben Sels of San Francisco.

A private memorial service will be held in Bakersfield. The family asks that donations be made in Mrs. van Loben Sels' name, to UC Berkeley, 2200 University Ave., Berkeley, CA 94720.